Theophylline
chemical compound
Theophylline, also known as 1,3-dimethylxanthine, is a drug that inhibits phosphodiesterase and blocks adenosine receptors. It is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Its pharmacology is similar to other methylxanthine drugs (e.g., theobromine and caffeine). Trace amounts of theophylline are naturally present in tea, coffee, chocolate, yerba mate, guarana, and kola nut.
Medical uses
The main actions of theophylline involve:
relaxing bronchial smooth muscle
increasing heart muscle contractility and efficiency (positive inotrope)
increasing heart rate (positive chronotropic)
increasing blood pressure
increasing renal blood flow
anti-inflammatory effects
central nervous system stimulatory effect, mainly on the medullary respiratory center
The main therapeutic uses of theophylline are for treating:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Asthma
Infant apnea
Blocks the action of adenosine; an inhibitory neurotransmitter that induces sleep, contracts the smooth muscles and relaxes the cardiac muscle.
Treatment of post-dural puncture headache.
Performance enhancement in sports
Theophylline and other methylxanthines are often used for their performance-enhancing effects in sports, as these drugs increase alertness, bronchodilation, and increase the rate and force of heart contraction. There is conflicting information about the value of theophylline and other methylxanthines as prophylaxis against exercise-induced asthma.
Adverse effects
The use of theophylline is complicated by its interaction with various drugs and by the fact that it has a narrow therapeutic window (<20 mcg/mL). Its use must be monitored by direct measurement of serum theophylline levels to avoid toxicity.
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This entry incorporates text from “Theophylline” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.